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SMITHVILLE SOUTH
Hook, Ladder & Engine Co. #1
1908 - 2008
Celebrating 100 Years of Dedicated Service

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To our Family, Friends, Neighbors,
NC Fire Departments, Sponsors & Vendors:
THANK YOU!!!!
FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION
DURING OUR CELEBRATION
To our Membership
THIS WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND
YOUR ASSISTANCE & DEDICATION
TO MAKING THIS CELEBRATION SUCCESSFUL
WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED
A special thanks to the 100th Anniversary Committee
THANKS TO A JOB WELL DONE!!!!
YOU ALL GAVE UP SO MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL TIME
TO ENSURE THAT THIS CELEBRATION WAS A
MEMORABLE ONE AND YOU HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
YOUR EFFORTS WERE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!!!!


Smithville South Hook Ladder & Engine Co. 1 in North Bellmore Remembered Fallen Heroes at Groundbreaking Ceremony

 On April 5 th, members of the Smithville South Hook, Ladder & Engine Company 1 held a ceremony to recognize three volunteer firefighters within the North Bellmore Fire Department who died in the line of duty; Fordham Odell died in 1932 and Edmond Kullman and Edward Steinert died at separate times in 1973.

At the ceremony at Smithville South HL & Engine Co. 1 , firefighters, family of the fallen firefighters, elected officials and other members of the community took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a set of new monuments that, once erected, will memorialize firefighters Odell, Kullman and Steinert, and every single firefighter who died on September 11, 2001.  It is the first of many events that will take place throughout 2008 to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of Smithville South HL & Engine Co. 1 . 

While preparing for the Diamond Anniversary, Smithville South firefighters recently stumbled upon a third line of duty death while reading archived board meeting ledgers, and in the minutes, it stated that Odell died in the line of duty in
April of 1932.  At the age of 50, he died of a heart attack after responding to a fire alarm.  Many of Odell’s family members attended the ceremony including one of Odell’s daughters, Alyce Odell Brown of Deer Park, a granddaughter, Carol Fulkerson of Centereach, and a great, great granddaughter, Melissa Cotgreave of Wading River. 

In 1973, the North Bellmore FD lost two volunteers.  At the age of 45, Ed Kullman died in a basement fire, and two other firefighters were seriously injured at the scene.  At the age of 40, Ed Steinert died of a heart attack after hauling heavy fire hoses.  His son, Curt Steinert followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a volunteer firefighter in the North Bellmore Fire Department.  For the last year, Curt had served as Captain of NBFD’s Smithville South HL & Engine Co. 1.

Pic # 1 Curt Steinert & Mom Evelyn / Pic #2 Family of Eddie Kullman

Pic #3 Family of Fordham Odell / Pic #4 Family of Fordham Odell

Pic #5 Great, Great Granddaughter of Fordham Odell